Message from Principal McKillop
Good Evening, Cougar Nation!
I hope this email finds you dry despite the rain outside. It's hard to believe that we are moving into the month of October. Campus has been busy after school with rehearsals, practices, co-curricular activities, and games. We were fortunate to host our first Cross Country race since 2016 on Wednesday. Thanks to all of our volunteers who helped make the event happen and to our amazing student-athletes who modeled a strong sense of sportsmanship and community. Cougar Nation is certainly a special place.
Last week we participated in the annual food drive for NH Tackles Hunger. FCVA volunteers in collaboration with our high school student athletes collected nearly 1,000 lbs of food and just under $300. All donations were delivered to the Peterborough Food Pantry last Saturday. Thank you to everyone in the ConVal community who helped us reach these numbers!
Today some of our students attended the NH Construction Career day field trip. Many shared they enjoyed learning more about construction trades.
I would encourage you to look at the classroom snapshots below that showcase some of the things happening in our learning spaces. I love visiting rooms and watching our teachers and students engaging in the learning process.
Please remember that School Counseling has a link each month embedded in this newsletter that shares current happenings. This week they hosted two evening events. Please see the link below for what to expect in October.
My son Mason is pictured above with me at a Volleyball game. He loves cheering on the Cougars!
Have a wonderful weekend, and GO COUGARS!
Best,
Heather
Student Council
Members of the ConVal Student Council working in small groups during their annual retreat.
Each year the student council spends a day together to work on initiatives and activities that will
be the focus of their work throughout the school year. Under the guidance of the student council
advisors, the student leaders focus on creating experiences for all students that foster a sense
of community.
Digital Photo & Video I Class
Students in Digital Photo & Video I experimented with light wands as they worked to capture images of personal possessions that have meaning to them in their Memento Project. Mr. Levesque urged them to make good use of their tripods to ensure that their focus is clear as the students work to practice the skills they will put to use when they submit artwork for the NH Scholastic Arts Awards competition later this year.
Algebra Class
In Mr. Helliesen's Algebra class, students are using vertical classrooms. With work hung up on the walls ideas circulate the room. Students are looking at what other groups are doing. They participate in conversations that can help students if they struggle with where to get started. The student's focus is on discourse with their peers to solve problems as opposed to getting absorbed in their individual work.
Students are doing a gallery walk, where all groups solve the same problem, and then go on to the next group's poster to see what they did, and to see if they solved it the same or a similar way. This gives students a classroom structure to reflect on their work and other students' work to enhance their understanding.
Athletics & Co-Curriculars
Big News: Last week we ran our annual food drive for NH Tackles Hunger. NH Tackles Hunger is a WMUR and NH Food Bank initiative to help end hunger in our local communities. FCVA volunteers in collaboration with our high school athletes collected nearly 1,000 lbs of food and just under $300. Thank you to everyone in the ConVal community who helped us reach these numbers. All donations were delivered to the Peterborough Food Pantry last Saturday.
Big News: ConVal Cross Country hosted their first race since 2016 on Wednesday 9/27. The race was a huge success thanks to all our amazing volunteers, athletes, and coaches. The race consisted of three teams, Milford, Hollis-Brookline, and ConVal. Will Simard took first place in the boys race and many other runners had personal bests. On top of all the excitement of the race, we had the chance to celebrate our seniors on their home course which hasn’t happened in 7 years! We are excited to make sure this race becomes an annual event here on the ConVal campus.
Spirit Week 10/2 - 10/7
Next week is homecoming and we will be bringing the spirit all week, leading up to the big football game vs Kingswood and the Homecoming Dance.
For spirit week, students can earn points for their class by participating in our theme days listed below:
Monday 10/2 - New England Day
JV Football will host Interlakes at 4pm.
Tuesday 10/3 - Clash Day
Field Hockey will host Merrimack Valley at 4pm on the Lower Field.
Girls Soccer will host John Stark at 4pm on Stadium Field.
Wednesday 10/4 - All things Pink Day
Thursday 10/5 - BBQ Parent vs. Soccer Parent Day
Homecoming Eve Volleyball Kick off vs. Souhegan for a triple header, Reserve at 3:30, JV at 4:30, and Varsity at 5:45.
Friday 10/6 - Blue and Gold Day
Unified Soccer will be hosting Souhegan on Stadium Field at 4pm.
Football and Spirit will host the last homecoming game of the weekend taking on Kingswood at 7 pm on Stadium Field.
Saturday 10/7 - The Homecoming Dance in the ConVal Gym at 7pm hosted by the Class of 2024!!!
Please visit convalathletics.org to see a complete schedule for all fall sports.
